The Presidio Hills Golf Course Pro Shop can be found inside San Diego’s oldest building, La Casa de Carrillo.
Believe it or not, the oldest structure that still exists in San Diego (outside of the walls of the Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá) contains a golf Pro Shop!
The two-century-old Casa de Carrillo, located near the base of historic Presidio Hill, was built in 1817, according to the Save Our Heritage Organisation. (Plaques at the location provide two different years.) It was built by the Spanish presidio’s commander, Francisco Maria Ruiz, for Joaquin Carrillo, a relative and fellow soldier stationed in San Diego. The adobe house stood beside the Comandante’s pear garden. Today the rather simple building, which was restored in 1931, is the home of the Presidio Hills Golf Course Pro Shop!
The small Presidio Hills Golf Course has its own unique history. Occupying what was once a scrubby plot of land at the foot of Presidio Hill, just east of Old Town, the pitch-and-putt golf course was developed in the early 1930s by George Marston, a visionary San Diego businessman and philanthropist who also worked to develop Balboa Park, the San Diego Public Library, and the San Diego Historical Society. Marston created the Junipero Serra Museum which rises today just above the site of the original 1769 Spanish presidio, so-called birthplace of California.
Over the years, the Presidio Hills Golf Course has hosted several world famous golfers, most notably Phil Mickelson, a resident of San Diego. When they were kids, Phil and his sister Tina would play all day at the small golf course. I was told by the super friendly young gentleman working in the pro shop that Phil Mickelson returns to visit every few years, just for old time’s sake.
A young Tiger Woods also won two Junior World trophies at Presidio Hills Golf Course!
Read the photo captions for a bit more information . . .
A photo of the small, historic adobe taken from the parking lot of the Presidio Hills Golf Course. Casa de Carrillo is the oldest structure that is still standing in San Diego.Bronze plaque near the front door reads: A portion of La Casa De Carrillo – Pear Garden House. A center of social life and romance in early Spanish days. Here lived Senorita Josefa Carrillo. One of the oldest adobe dwellings in San Diego. Built about the year 1810. Restored in October 1931.Photo of La Casa de Carrillo taken from a golf green just east of the structure.Sign near historical marker for Casa de Carrillo points to the golf course clubhouse and first hole.Presidio Comandante Francisco Maria Ruiz built this house next to his 1808 pear garden late in 1821 for his close relative and fellow soldier, Joaquin Carrillo, and his large family.Enter the old adobe and you will find the Pro Shop. The easy Presidio Hills Golf Course is a great place to learn golf–ideal for families and kids. And one gets a history lesson, too!Another look inside the restored adobe. I’m not sure which parts of the historically important building are original.An old newspaper article displayed in the pro shop includes a photo of 8-year-old Tiger Woods. He is showing off a Junior World trophy captured at Presidio Hills, where he won two titles.San Diego Union September 1, 1931. Old Town Links Well Under Way On Marston Land.Various photos of Presidio Hills Golf Course history inside the Pro Shop. Phil Mickelson and Craig Stadler are two notable golfers from San Diego.Another photo shows Don and Al Abrego Presidio Hills Tiny Tots Golf School. The defunct school has faded into history.The modest Presidio Hills Golf Course is Par 3, 18 Holes. It’s located at the east edge of San Diego’s Old Town.Another look across the small, easy golf course. It appears to be a bit neglected. Regrettably, I saw no players out on a Sunday afternoon.Old black-and-white photograph inside the Presidio Hills Golf Course Pro Shop shows La Casa de Carillo (note the different spelling) before it was restored in 1929.
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Through this door is where the tour of the Villa Montezuma begins. Once inside, visitors turn left into a reception room, then proceed into truly magnificent performance and drawing rooms.
Four times a year, people are allowed inside the amazing Villa Montezuma. That’s part of the agreement between the City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department and the Friends of the Villa Montezuma, who are working hard to restore this historic gem in San Diego’s Sherman Heights neighborhood. I went on one of those half hour tours yesterday. Wow!
A couple years ago I walked past this eye-popping 1887 Queen Anne Victorian mansion, built by famed musican and spiritualist Jesse Shepard. I then posted a blog with a few outside photos. Well, guess what? All I can present today are more outside photos! Because photography isn’t allowed inside the Villa Montezuma at this time. But I can provide a little info about the tour, and try to convince you to go on one yourself.
Stepping into the Villa Montezuma is like stepping into a tiny royal palace. I’m not exaggerating. When I was young, I was fortunate to visit many of the most elegant palaces and chateaus of Europe, and the interior of Jesse Shepard’s home, which includes a splendid reception room, performance hall and drawing room, easily matches those esteemed places when it comes to lavish, luxurious decoration. Jesse Shepard (who later wrote under the pen name of Francis Grierson) was a pianist and composer who performed for many of Europe’s royalty, including the Czar of Russia and the Prince of Wales in England. So he was no stranger to a kingly lifestyle!
Should you enjoy an inside tour of the elaborate Villa Montezuma, which is built entirely of redwood, you’ll see fantastic art glass created by John Mallon of San Francisco. (Mallon also created the stained glass windows for San Diego’s 1889 courthouse, each window representing the Great Seals of the 42 states. You can see those windows today in downtown’s Hall of Justice.)
Jesse Shepard loved art, music and literature, and the stained glass windows in his mansion pay homage to his favorite artists. In the splendid room where he performed concerts for guests, windows feature the faces of Beethoven and Mozart, Raphael and Rubens; you’ll also see an expansive window devoted to Sappho, the classic Greek lyric poet, and four windows representing the four seasons. In the drawing room you can see more stained glass featuring Shakespeare, Goethe and Corneille.
The effect of these windows is truly astonishing. Their magical light shines on warm, ornate woodwork and wood floors, an embossed silvery ceiling, satin curtains, a variety of beautiful fireplaces, and artful touches that include influences from Innsbruck and Japonism. Stepping into the Villa Montezuma almost seems like falling into a dream of long ago.
Restoration of the Villa Montezuma is ongoing. The foundation was recently strengthened, along with the roof and chimneys. Still to go is the repainting of the exterior, fence restoration and landscaping the grounds. Once all is complete, it is hoped the mansion will be open full time as a permanent museum!
Meanwhile, go on a tour if you’re in San Diego. The guide was knowledgeable and entertaining. You’ll see much of the house, even some less elevated parts like the kitchen and washing room. You’ll learn all about Jesse Shepard, including strange mysteries concerning his life and the absolutely magnificent way he died!
Folks gather for a free half hour tour. The public can venture inside the Villa Montezuma four times every year. (The upper floor isn’t open to the public yet.)The Friends of the Villa Montezuma is a nonprofit dedicated to restoring and maintaining the amazing Villa Montezuma mansion in San Diego.Photo of southeast corner of the Villa Montezuma Museum. The 1887 Queen Anne Victorian mansion contains numerous beautiful stained glass windows.Looking upward at the elaborate tower. I was allowed to closely approach this outside part of the Villa Montezuma on a tour day.A balcony just outside Jesse Shepard’s bedroom, which is adjacent to the elegant drawing room!Unusual curved bay window of the drawing room features stained glass images of Shakespeare, Goethe and Corneille. One must be inside to appreciate the grand effect.A light-filled chapel-like nook in one corner of Jesse Shepard’s performance room features stained glass depicting the four seasons.
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A large bee and the word LOVE. Street art on a fence near the top of Golden Hill.
I went on a long walk today and took many photos. Enough for several blog posts!
I’ll begin at the beginning–walking in the mid-morning from downtown San Diego to the top of Golden Hill. I headed east along Broadway, crossed Interstate 5, then began my climb up the hill, looking this way and that. Here are a few interesting things I saw, starting at the Police Headquarters located at 14th and Broadway…
A wreath in front of the San Diego Police Headquarters’ Wall of Honor is the remnant of a recent memorial ceremony. The wall is inscribed with the names of all police officers killed in the line of duty since 1913.A prayer on Broadway. Shelter my brothers and sisters in arms who have fallen in the fight. Let their stars, lit by your love, shine brightly through the night.A sign points to Golden Hill as I walk east up Broadway from downtown San Diego.Looking back west toward downtown. Many jacaranda trees line San Diego’s streets. A man waits at a bus stop.Crazy decal on the back of a stop sign.A utility box with a bit of funny urban art. This tired buffalo appears to be crunching some numbers.A nicely restored Victorian residence on sloping Broadway, photographed while heading up Golden Hill. This neighborhood contains many historic houses. A hundred years ago, this area on a scenic hill near downtown was very affluent.One side of a utility box has been boldly painted with a fiery green dragon.A lady and a scaly dragon on the opposite side of the box. A floral mural decorates a nearby store’s wall.The San Diego Reader is a very popular alternative weekly newspaper in our city. Their headquarters is located on Broadway in Golden Hill.The 1896 Quartermass-Wilde House is a San Diego Historic Landmark. It’s difficult to miss! This elegant Victorian is an outstanding example of Queen Anne style architecture.Lots of balloons and flowers for sale at the corner of Broadway and 25th Street. It’s Mother’s Day.A beautiful bit of shining art inlaid in the sidewalk. A marker at the top of Golden Hill.San Diego Fire Station 11, at the corner of Broadway and 25th Street. It’s a perfect day for a walk!A Mexican taco shop has graffiti on the windows. The neighborhood today is slightly neglected, but sunny and pleasant.A wooden fence along the sidewalk contains amazing, colorful murals, beginning with this flowery skull.A brilliant butterfly spotted on Broadway, near the top of Golden Hill!A hummingbird drawn like ancient Southwestern rock art.A magical lady, eyeball plants and an unfinished Simba.Someone walks west along the Broadway sidewalk. I continued east, turned north up 28th Street and directed my feet toward South Park.
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Photo of a unique downtown landmark. The shining lattice dome of the San Diego Central Library, as seen from the ninth floor’s outside deck.
Many old redundant photos are being purged from my computer this weekend. But I had to definitely share these!
I’ve blogged about San Diego’s relatively new downtown library several times. I’ve posted more than a few pics of its unique lattice dome. You might recall some weirdly halo-like photos I took in the darkness early one night last year.
Well, check these out! The curving lines of steel reflected in the building’s windows look like a lesson in complex geometry. You know, in a strange way the dome reminds me of a graph or diagram demonstrating how time and space can be warped by gravity! Am I crazy? What does it look like to you?
A collection of rare books is housed in a room on the ninth floor of San Diego’s public library.The visually impressive steel lattice dome tops an airy two-story high library reading room. An architectural marvel.Reflections in the windows create a fantastic, mysterious image.Looking upward at the metal dome and blue sky. Amazing views can be had of downtown from the library’s ninth floor.Lots of geometric complexity and dazzling light for my camera’s lens.Peering down into the spacious reading room on a bright sunshiny day.Filtered light and shadows form unusual grid-like patterns inside the reading room. The perfect place to study a math book, maybe.A three-dimensional delight. Intersecting lines fascinate the eye.One last cool photo. I feel like I’m floating through some sort of mathematical dreamscape.
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Tour guide Jeff explains that today’s Studio 36 Sculptors Guild was an outdoor theatre in the early years of Spanish Village. The front was a lobby and ticket booth. Writers, actors and set designers would act out plays on the inner patio.
Spanish Village Art Center, in beautiful Balboa Park, is where you’ll find the colorful studios of many fine San Diego artists. Last year I blogged about the history of this fascinating place. A small exhibit in Gallery 21 recounted how Spanish Village was created for the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition, and traced the village’s evolution over subsequent decades. Unfortunately, that exhibit no longer exists. But I did record much of it. To enjoy an overview of the history, you can revisit my old blog post by clicking here.
Last Saturday I was given a terrific tour of Spanish Village by a super friendly guy named Jeff. During the tour, Jeff showed me some unusual, unexpected features of Spanish Village and delved into its often surprising history.
(Fortunately, Jeff gave me some notes that I will reference in this blog. Should you enjoy a tour yourself, you can probably obtain your own copy!)
Please read the photo captions where I provide descriptions and very short explanations. As you’ll see, many interesting changes in Spanish Village have taken place over the years. And I’ve barely begun to scratch the surface!
If something I’ve written is inaccurate, or needs some elaboration, leave a comment! What memories do you have?
Click here to check out the Spanish Village Art Center blog! Support these great artists!
An old photograph of how Spanish Village appeared around the time of the California Pacific International Exposition of 1935.
In 1935, when Spanish Village opened, visitors strolled down simulated Old World streets, which featured restaurants and shops in picturesque, open-arched buildings. The architecture was inspired by the Andalusian region of southern Spain. In addition to wine shops, a cocktail lounge and a Chinese Bazaar, one could buy flowers and enjoy music, art . . . and even a high wire trapeze act!
You can see in the above old photograph a no-longer-existing building at the center of today’s large patio. It separated Spanish Village into two “streets” that visitors could enjoy.
Over the years, resident artists have built out the small open air shops to create practical but unique enclosed spaces. Some of the open arches have been filled in, or can now be seen inside certain studios.
A current map of Spanish Village shows how it appears today. You can find this wonderful part of Balboa Park between the Natural History Museum and the San Diego Zoo.Jeff shows me Studios 34 A and 34 B, which were originally one space featuring a puppet show.Studios 24 through 28 surround a small inner courtyard. This area in Spanish Village originally contained a wishing well and actual horse stalls!Studio 6 has a sliding barn door! Two other studios dating from the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition have similar doors.Studio 8, like many others in Spanish Village, was built out from the original open archway to provide more space for the artists. The words The SHANGHAI are from 1935. It evidently used to be a bar.Near Studio 8’s entrance are two amazing works of art. Here’s one. It was created by John Novy, a potter who was a member of Spanish Village from 1969 to 1977.Second installation of ceramic tiles on exterior of Studio 8 in Spanish Village. This art was created by professional potter John Novy.This used to be the east entrance into Spanish Village. Today you’ll find outdoor glassblowers creating amazing glass pieces while visitors gather around to watch.The old east entrance (under the tiles) is now blocked off. Much of the grassy area occupied by today’s Balboa Park Miniature Railroad used to be a parking lot.Studio 18 is now the office of Spanish Village Art Center. In the early years a caretaker lived here. That rooster weather vane can be seen in many old photographs.The south end of the San Diego Mineral and Gem Society building used to extend a bit into today’s large patio area. You can see an old wooden beam on the present-day exterior.This quaint little street, during the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition, led into the Fun Zone! Now it leads to a small parking lot.Gazing back south from the parking lot at today’s Spanish Village artist co-op in Balboa Park.The extended west side of the San Diego Mineral and Gem Society building was built sometime after the 1935 Expo.Originally, the building terminated where you see the column.Walking along the west edge of Spanish Village. Many decorative columns and arches provide this artist’s co-op with unique character.Looking through the west archway toward a shrub elephant, which stands on a nearby, newly improved walkway that heads north to the San Diego Zoo.This large dance floor (and the area where I’m standing) at the center of the colorful Spanish Village patio was once occupied by a large building. It seems there is some debate as to what that building was, exactly.Studio 3 is occupied by artist Don Knapp. He arrived at Spanish Village as a child! His grandmother was a founding member in the 1930s.Loads of fun, creative stuff is going on in Spanish Village Art Center in 2016. Please click the image to enlarge it, and then mark your calendar!Jeff provides a really interesting tour. Look for his friendly smile if you happen to find yourself in wonderful, historic Spanish Village!
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The delightfully unusual Beaumont Building rises in Little Italy at 434 West Cedar Street.
In my opinion, the most delightfully unusual building in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood is the Beaumont Building. The design–especially the two cylindrical towers–is both visually distinctive and impressive. Those mysterious-looking towers make me look up with fresh surprise whenever I see them.
The Beaumont Building was built in 1988. It was designed by Rob Wellington Quigley, whose architectural work can be seen in various places around San Diego. The lattice-domed San Diego Central Library and The New Children’s Museum are two well-known examples.
I often walk past this building, and have taken many photographs over the years. But none of my photos fully capture this very unique structure’s truly amazing presence.
Looking upward near the front entrance to the unique Beaumont Building.Another photo on a different day of this very cool building in San Diego’s always interesting Little Italy neighborhood.The two high towers of the Beaumont Building almost appear like antennas, or an over-sized science experiment.An eye-catching sight during a morning walk!
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The Junipero Serra Museum of the San Diego History Center was built in 1928 on Presidio Hill, where European civilization was established in Alta California.
I recently visited one of San Diego’s most fascinating museums. The Junipero Serra Museum is located atop Presidio Hill, in a distinctive Mission Revival architectural style building overlooking San Diego Bay and the San Diego River, just east of Old Town. It stands near the site of San Diego’s historic Spanish presidio, built in 1769. The presidio was the birthplace of European civilization in Alta California.
The Serra Museum is operated by the San Diego History Center, which is headquartered today in Balboa Park. Back in 1929, when the building was dedicated, it became home of what was then called the San Diego Historical Society. The important San Diego institution was established by civic leader George W. Marston.
Can you believe it? I’ve lived in San Diego for 15 years . . . and this was the very first time I ventured into the Serra Museum. (I can thank my blog for that!)
What I discovered was an absolutely amazing place that both residents and visitors to San Diego should definitely not miss.
Here’s a sample of what you’ll see…
People arrive at the Serra Museum, where San Diego’s early Spanish history comes alive.Junipero Serra Museum dedicated July 16, 1929 to the memory of the founder of the California missions. The original Mission San Diego de Alcalá was established nearby in 1769.A quick look at the rear of the museum.The Serra Museum building was designed by noted architect William Templeton Johnson. It reflects Mission Revival style architecture.Large wine press in front of the museum was a gift from the Spanish island of Mallorca, Father Junipero Serra’s birthplace.Plaque near entrance reads George White Marston 1850-1946. FRIEND OF HIS FELLOW MEN – LOVER OF ALL GROWING THINGS. Piece by piece through many years he acquired these acres…Elegant interior of the Serra Museum contains many exhibits pertaining to San Diego’s early Spanish history.Researchers discovered this sketch of the Royal San Diego Presidio dated 1820. It shows the layout of the old buildings which no longer exist.Modern graphic illustration of the fortified presidio, which was located a short distance below the Serra Museum’s front entrance.Old Spanish cannon named El Jupiter, cast in Manila in the 18th century. El Jupiter stood in Fort Guijarros at Ballast Point, the first defensive fortifications for San Diego Bay.Leather armchair made in Catalan, Spain in the 17th century. This “friar’s chair” was part of the original Serra Museum’s furnishings.Old violin with bow, a branding iron used by rancheros to identify cattle, and iron spurs are among the many historical objects on display.Another look at the beautiful interior of the Serra Museum in San Diego.Large wooden beams in a truly amazing ceiling.Stairs lead up to the Serra Museum’s tower. Painted on the wall is a map showing the sea journey of the Spanish expedition which founded San Diego in 1769.March 9-20, 1769. Desperate to replace drinking water which leaked from the ship’s casks, Captain Vicente Vila commands the tacking Spanish galleon San Carlos near Isla de Cedros.A room halfway up the tower. Numerous displays recall San Diego’s history, most notably around the time when the Serra Museum was dedicated in 1929.Old photo of the crowd attending the Serra Museum’s dedication ceremony on July 16, 1929.A fascinating look at Presidio Hill almost a century ago.A lovely watercolor sketch of the Junipero Serra Museum atop Presidio Hill.On the wall are many historical photos and artifacts, including an image from around 1930 of a cigar factory on 4th Street in San Diego.A reproduction of the west elevation drawing of the Serra Museum by architect William Templeton Johnson.Now we’re heading up to the very top of the tower.Looking west from the Serra Museum tower along Interstate 8. Point Loma is on the left and Mission Bay is to the right.Looking east into Mission Valley.Visitors at the Serra Museum head back down from the tower, after looking at old photos which show a much less-developed surrounding landscape.A small theater in the Serra Museum contains additional exhibits about life in and around the old Presidio.Examples of what life was like for the Native American Kumeyaay, who occupied this region long before it was discovered by the Spanish.Stories of two people who lived on a local Rancho. Click the image to enlarge, if you’d like to read it.Map of the old Presidio’s archaeological site. You can see where the fort was located in relation to the Serra Museum.Explanation of the excavation process utilized by researchers. Some artifacts that were unearthed are on display in the museum.Artistic rendition of a Mexican presidio soldier circa 1830, and a horse bit.An olive press, granite mill stones, and an ox yoke.Small artifacts include this carved polychrome wood San Diego de Alcala Santo from 18th century Spain.Sign describes the life of Franciscan missionary Father Junipero Serra, and his work to establish the California Missions under the flag of Spain. He was recently made a Catholic Saint.Painting. Oil on canvas. San Diego del Alcala de Henares. Mid 18th century, Spanish or Mexican.Olla and bowl. Kumeyaay or neighboring culture.The Junipero Serra Museum in San Diego provides a fascinating look at our culturally diverse city’s very early history.
Architectural details on several of the Egyptian Quarter’s buildings include pharaohs, scarabs and other exotic designs. This photo was taken at the Pharaoh’s Court Apartments.
Last weekend I took a long looping walk through North Park. Many cool images are coming soon!
To reach North Park from downtown, I walked through a corner of Hillcrest called the Egyptian Quarter. When you take a look at the following photos, you’ll understand the origin of the unusual name.
These several blocks in San Diego were heavily influenced by the Egyptian Revival and Art Nouveau styles, which where very popular back in the 1920s. In recent years, businesses in the area have banded together to re-emphasize this neighborhood’s exotic identity. Walk anywhere near the corner of Park Boulevard and University Avenue, and you’re bound to think you’ve traveled back in time to ancient Egypt!
An ancient pharaoh seems to look over the Egyptian Quarter. One almost expects to see a pyramid nearby!One of several trashcans on Park Boulevard and University Avenue painted with colorful Egyptian motifs.Cool Egyptian-themed street mural recently painted by local graffiti artist Fizix.A stylish stained glass door at the Nile Apartments in San Diego’s unique Egyptian Quarter.Unexpected cool sights abound in the Egyptian Quarter, located in Hillcrest at the geographic edge of North Park.
View of the lit dome of San Diego’s downtown library, seen from the 9th floor at night.
Yesterday evening after work I walked a bit in the darkness. The air was cool, downtown was quieting. I was drawn to the San Diego Central Library, and of course I had to ascend to the 9th floor. Few others were about. I lingered high above the city, outside under the lattice steel dome. I watched small trolleys slip past below. A thousand distant lights stretched toward the South Bay. The world seemed remote. Paths of gentle light were traced above, around and below. I seemed to float in a swirled galaxy; but I saw no stars.
Inside a glowing steel lattice. The new library’s dome in the past couple years has become a distinctive feature of San Diego’s skyline.Gazing through the unique dome toward the 12th and Imperial Transit Center’s clock tower.Nine stories below, a trolley heads north into the heart of East Village.Looking down into the large reading room of the San Diego Central Library after dark. Under the dome, people were quietly studying, or just gazing out into the nighttime.Meshed paths of light seem to radiate like a halo from the top of San Diego’s amazing downtown library.
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This astonishing ceiling impressed San Diego Trust and Savings Bank customers back in 1928, when it originally debuted.
There are many amazing hotels around San Diego, especially downtown. Several of the hotels are located in historic old buildings. For several months, the San Diego Trust and Savings Bank Building (1928), now occupied by Courtyard by Marriott, has been undergoing outside restoration. A few days ago I noticed that much of the work has been completed, so I decided to go inside the lobby to ask a question or two. And wow!
This was my first time inside the truly eye-popping lobby. Look at the ceiling! The old bank hall, which now welcomes hotel guests, appears almost like the interior of some medieval church, with its arches, vaulted doors, medallions, bronze window grilles and a 32-foot high colorfully painted coffered ceiling. Also reflecting the building’s Italian Romanesque Revival architectural style, the grand interior contains 35 decorative columns with Corinthian capitals, chiseled from 19 different types of marble from around the world. Additionally, the walls, counters, pilasters and floor all feature rich imported marble.
The elegant building, which was constructed with the finest materials available at the time, was designed by notable architect William Templeton Johnson, who is also credited for the San Diego Museum of Art and Natural History Museum buildings in Balboa Park, the Serra Museum in Presidio Park, and the La Jolla Athenaeum. He is also one of the architects responsible for the San Diego County Administration Center.
I was told by a friendly front desk clerk that the restoration involved patching cracks in the building’s exterior. Looks to me like somebody did a good job!
Photo of the San Diego Trust and Savings Bank Building taken from one block east on Broadway. The 14-story structure is topped with a two-story penthouse and cupola.Flag on stately exterior of Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown.Plaque at 530 Broadway. This property has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior.Elegant bronze and glass entrance to the eye-popping lobby of the Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown.Stand inside the old bank hall and gaze upward. You’ll think your visiting a fantastic cathedral or medieval building in Europe.The welcoming interior of a modern hotel. An historical building smartly preserved and repurposed.I like this cheerful painting of a girl lying on a turtle behind the hotel’s front counter!Yet another cool sight in my amazing neighborhood: downtown San Diego!
UPDATE!
When I stepped into the hotel during the San Diego Architectural Foundation’s OPEN HOUSE 2017, I learned from a friendly event volunteer that I could head down to see the old bank’s vaults, which are now meeting rooms! Here are some photos!
Map near the ceiling where steps descend from the lobby to elevators.The beautiful arched ceiling near the hotel’s bank of elevators.Elegant area near the entrance to The Safe Deposit Room.Formidable steel doors in a lower level hallway, leading to The Vault, a very unique meeting room. The San Diego Trust and Savings Bank Building has unusual historic features that hotel guests can enjoy.The Safe Deposit Room in the Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown has a rather unusual entrance! The 1928 Mosler safe door weighs 47,000 pounds! Meetings can be held inside.
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